Electrically-controlled automatic block system for operating railway-signals.



No. 763,921. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

I A. OESTBRREIUHER. ELECTRIGALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOROPERATING RAILWAY SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 4. 1902.

N0 MODEL. 11 SHEETS-SHEET l.

172 V6]? far No. 763,921- PATBNTED JUNE 28, 1904.

A. OBSTERREIOHER. ELEOTRIOALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOROPERATING RAILWAY SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 4, 1902. O

NO MODEL. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 2- wzizeadea/ 172 Vera 0r Tu: ncnms PETERS ca.wow-umo. WASNINGTOM a. c

No. 763,921. v v PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

A. OBSTERREICHER.

ELECTRIGALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOR OPERATING RAILWAYSIGNALS.

APPLICATION NLRB 6014, 1902. N0 MODEL- 11 sums-sums.

@@@ Q00 @02- age 0 0 I.

1w: Nonms vwsns c0 PNOTD-LITHQ, WASHINGTON n. c.

No- 763,92l PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904. A. OESTBRREIOHER.

ELECTRIC-ALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOR OPERATING RAILWAYSIGNALS.

IIL D 1..4 1902. No MODEL. APPLIC IATIOH E 00 11S HEETSSHBET A.

HE Mums vz-rans cc. more-1.1mm WASHINGTON n. c

PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

I A. OESTERRBICHER. ELEOTRIOALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOROPERATING RAILWAY SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED 001 .4, 1902.

. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N0 MODEL.

fave/250.1 I gj rai flwz erreacker dfl/rnw 23: I

Wei mayday PATENTED JUNE 28,1904.

A. OBSTBRREIGHER. ELEGTRIOALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOROPERATING RAILWAY SIGNALS.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 4. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

I J); Eve/afar [ltd flwzrlaziaf' No. 763,921. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

, A. OESTBRREIOHBR. ELEGTRIGALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOROPERATING RAILWAY SIGNALS.

APPLICATION rum) 0 01. 4. 1902. N0 MODEL 11 SHEETS-SHEET '1.

Zl/a'zeovecs,

TNE mails PETERS co.. PnofmuTNO. wnsums'rou, n. a

. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

. A. OESTERRE'IGHER. ELEGTRIGALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOROPERATING RAILWAY SIGNALS. AJEPLIQATION FILED OUT. 4. 1902.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

H0 MODEL.

mus vrrgas co. mow-unit) wAsnmnfon. o. c.

No. 763,921- BATENTED JUNE 28, 1904. A. OESTERREIGHER.

ELEGTRIOALLY CONTRQLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SJYSTEM FOR OPERATING RAILWAYSIGNALS..

APPLIOATQH FILED OUT 4. MQQ

NO MODEL. N 11 SHBETSS HEIiT 9.

I I I Q A i I I R. g I I I Q I I I I I I 706%]: ewes, Ja e/afar W M5460!aea'fer'regder- 3M z/W No. 763,921. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904. A.OBSTERRBIGHBR.

ELEGTRIGALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOR OPERATING RAILWAYSIGNALS.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT. 4. 1902. N0 MODEL. 11 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

JjzVe/zfar Wafizeaaed 5f? 'E Z d dit eiv'eaMer Gww No. 763,921. PATENTEDJUNE 28, 1904.

A. OESTERREIGHBR.

ELEGTRIGALLY CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOR OPERATING RAILWAYSIGNALS.

PPLIOATION FILE-D0014. 1902. N0 MODEL. A

11 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

Motor [WWWL Z I J 310631 [15 rumclai UNITED STATES Patented June 28,1904.

PATENT EEicE.

ALFRED OESTERREICHER, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO LORENZ NEMELKA, OF VIENNA XI, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

ELECTRlCALLY-CONTROLLED AUTOMATIC BLOCK SYSTEM FOR OPERATINGRAILWAY-SIGNALS.

QPEOIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 763,921, dated June 28,1904.

Application filed October 4, 1902.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED OESTERREIOHER,

a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary,

residing at Vienna, in the Province of Lower Austria, in the Empire ofAustria-Hungary,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricallyControlled Automatic Block Systems for Operating Railway-Signals; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters and figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a block system of railway signaling intendedto insure the safety of succeeding trains in which the setting ofthesignals or switches is generally effected in an automatic manner andin which the cost of installing and of working the whole system isconsiderably reduced owing to the reduction of the staff required towork it and to the simplification of the installation of conductors.

The automatic block-signaling system arranged according to thisinvention is characterized in that the current required for its workingis established through short lengths of locally-arranged overhead lineby means of a contact preferably arranged on the roof of theengine-drivers cab and positively operated from the starting-lever ofthe locomotive, said current passing through the eleetromotorcontrolling the position of the signals or of the switch-points of thesection in which the train is traveling, the earth being utilizedas areturn. At the same time by means of a wire and of the earth-return acurrent is sent into the eleetromotor of the preceding section, so thatthe signals of the section in which the train is traveling becomeblocked and those on the preceding section placed at all clear. Theblock instrument by means of which the train operates thesignal-motorsis connected by two wires alternately conveying the currentand one common return-lead with the corresponding signal-motor, and thesaid instrument is in electrical connection with the Serial No. 125,961.(No model.)

.ing device operated by an automatic interrupter or circuit-breaker,which device when the movement of the motor is completed breaks thecircuit through which the current is passing at that moment and closesthe alternative circuit for operating the motor. The said signal-motoroperates two switching devices, one of which stops the motor after thesignals or the switch-points have been placed in position and the otherswitching device makes the connection required for the reverse motion ofthe motor, so that the position of the signal or of the points can bechanged by the next train through the intermediary of the 6 5corresponding block instrument in circuit with the overhead line.

Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate aform of construction of the eleetromotorfor working signals or switch-points, together with the cir- 7ocuit-changing devices operated thereby, in longitudinal verticalcross-section, plan, and end View, respectively. Fig. 4 is an elevationof the block instrument with the front. plate of the casing removed.Fig. 5 is a hori- 7 5 Zontal section through the said block instrument.Fig. 6 shows the same instrument, on a smaller scale, in frontelevation.Fig. 7 is a connection diagram for a single block instrument in the caseof a double-track instal-' 0 lation. Fig.- 8 shows a station instrumentarranged to operate the home signal independently, together with acontrolling device for indicating the position of the signal or of thepoints, the front plate of the casing being re- 8 5 moved. Fig. 9 showsthe same instrument, on a smaller scale, in front elevation. Fig.

10 is a vertical cross-section through the said instrument, and Fig. 11shows a connection diagram for the same. The three views, Figs. 12, 12,and 12", respectively, show connection diagrams for each of threesuccessive sections of a complete double-track installation. Figs. 13and 14: are diagrammatic views exhibiting the connection between thetrolleypole,locomotive, and starting-lever. Fig. 15 is a sectional viewshowing the construction ofcertain parts of the apparatus not clearlyexhibited in the other figures. Figs. 16, 17, and 18 are diagramstracing certain of the circuits. Fig. 19 is a detail view in plan,showing the manner in which the switch-point is operated.

The working current is preferably supplied by a storage battery. Thesaid current, however, can be supplied by a feed-wire from which theinstruments of the various sections of the line take the current theyrequire for operating their signals, the earth'being utiliZed as areturn. Preferably each section can be provided with a portable storagebattery, in which case the above-mentioned feed-wire becomesunnecessary. The charging of these batteries is efiected in thewell-known manner, preferably from a movable chargingstation. In theinstallation illustrated in Figs. 12 to 12", which for the sake ofsimplicity contains only three signal-stations, P P P, the latterarrangement of storage batteries a a a has been selected and thefeed-wire a which it would be necessary to provide if storage batterieswere not used for each separate section, is indicated by a chainline.The blocking of the section already entered upon by the train and thefreeing of the preceding section is effected by the train, but withoutemploying the rail and wheel contacts or insulated rails, &c., hithertoused, which parts are replaced by short lengths of locally-arrangedoverhead line 0, Fig. 7, one piece being placed in each section,receiving current from the corresponding storage battery (0 by means ofa wire 0 passing through the corresponding block instrument. Thiscurrent from the overhead line 0 is taken off by the contact Z), Fig.13, arranged on the roof of the cab, and is returned to the batterythrough the locomotivewheels, the portion of the track situated underthe overhead-line portion, and then through the earth. The contact,which may in the usual way comprise a spring-arm capable of being laiddown with yoke or rollers, is connected directly to the starting-leverof the locomotive without any separate handle in such way as to comeinto the operative position whenever the starting lever is placed intoposition for traveling, so that in this way the greatest guarantee isafforded for the correct working of the contact, as there is nopossibility of the driver forgetting to bring it into operativeposition. The height of the overhead line is made as small as possibleconsistent with the carriagegage for the given line, so as to render thecontact-arm as short as possible. The construction of the said pieces ofoverhead line is very much the same as that usual in electric tramways.In order to avoid shock when the arm is coming on the overhead line, itis provided at both ends with inclined planes. The length of theseoverhead lines depends on the speed of the fastest express passing overthis section, so as to obtain suliicient duration of contact foroperating the apparatus. The

separate lengths of rail forming the track under the overhead line areconnected by copper strips for the sake of better conductivity, similarto the bonds used in tramways. 1 have decided to employ an overheadline, because by the use thereof neither railway-carriages nor trolleys,but only trains, can have any influence on the block instruments andsignals. Besides, apparatus arranged on the track would be frequentlydamaged during the work which is so often in progress on lines carryingheavy traffic, thus disturbing the whole system, while with the overheadsystem such work is not interfered with. and the current-conveyingdevices are not disturbed. The working of signals or switch-points iseffected by means of an electromotor, which can be a continuous-currentmotor of any desired type, the only difference from. the ordinaryelectromotors being the construction of its armature-spindle.

Figs. 1, 2, and 3 show a bipolar continuouscurrent series-wound motorlVL of the wellknown type provided with a ring-armature R of the usualkind, as well as with carbon brushes 0, which are adjustable, so as toadmit of the motor being reversed. The armaturespindle (Z is hollow andhas at the middle a screw-threaded portion into which is screwed ascrew-spindle a. The screw-thread is of the smallest pitch possible inorder to prevent the spindle (1 from moving too fast in the longitudinaldirection when the armature-spindle is rotating. The screw-threadedspindle is provided at both ends with extensions (1 and e of rectangularcross-section, which pass through correspondingly-shaped openings formedin the bearings a, situated in the side walls of the motor,which supportthe journals of the hollow spindle d. The two extensions 0 and a guidethe screw-threaded spindle c and at the same time prevent it fromrotating. The guide-rod e is provided at its outer extremity with a pinf in engagement with a longitudinal slot in a lever g, keyed on a shaftG. The shaft (1? is rotatably supported by brackets g, Fig. 8, securedto or east integerally with the casing, and the said shaft is connectedby any convenient system of levers and rods with the signal (semaphore)S, Fig. 7 or with the switch-points. \V hen the armature R of the motorM is caused to rotate by the passage of an electrical current, thespindle a, being prevented from rotating, will be forced to move in alongitudinal direction, so that the pin 7" will cause the rotation ofthe shaft G, and thereby alter the position of the signal or of theswitch-points. The shaft Gr can in the present case be moved through anydesired angle up to ninety degrees. The motor-armature R can, however,be provided with a solid rotating spindle, in which case the lever ,r isreplaced by a Worm-wheel fast on the shaft G and in gear with a wormkeyed on the armature-spindle, which then is not movable in thelongitudinal direction. The shaft can then be turned through any desiredangle. In working semaphores, signal-arms, and switch-points it isnecessary that the motor should stop in the end positions and at thesame time be ready for return movement that is to say, the currententering next should cause it to rotate in the opposite direction. Thisis attained by means of the following two 'circuit-switchin g devices.To the arm or bracket h, projecting from the motor-casing H, is attacheda disk It, made of stabilit or some other insulating material, through acentral opening in which a stabilit sleeve 7L keyed to the spindle G,passes freely. On the opposite flat surfaces of the disk/L concentriccontacts e" and j j are secured. The two upper contacts 2' 7 areseparated from each other by the stabilit disk it, while the lowercontacts 'j are in permanent electrical con-' nection with each other bymeans of a pin passing through the stabilit disk. On the stabilit sleeveb on each side of the disk 7b is keyed a double-armed switch 7:: k,which when the sleeve 7L secured to the spindle G, rotates slides on thecontacts 2 z", j j. The

' lower contacts j are of such a length that the lower arm of eachswitch always'remains in contact therewith whatever their position whilethe upper contacts of d are displaced relatively to each other to anextent exceeding the width of the switch-arm, so that at both endpositions of the switch only one contact (2 or i) is electricallyconnected to the contacts The described arrangement constitutes theswitching device which switches out the motor at the end of its course.The second switching device, which can be operated either from theoscillating shaft G or, as shown in the drawings, from the back guiderod0 of the screw-threaded spindle 6, forms a reversing-switch constitutedby two pairs of diagonally-connected scissors-contacts 10, 11. 12, and13, Figs. 1, 2, 7, 12, 12, and 12. For each pair of oppositenon-connected contacts-such as, for instance, 11 13 or 10 12 in Fig.7there is provided one switch-lever, keyed onto a rotating spindle 14,Figs. 1 and 2, which carries two such contact-blades 15 and 16, arrangedat an angle. The said contact-blades,of which only one, with thecorresponding pair of contacts 11 13, is shown in Fig. 2, are insulatedfrom each other, but- 12 the corresponding blade 16 of the otherswitch-lever contacts with 13; but when these contacts are broken theblades 15 and 15 contact, respectively, with 10 and 11. To the spindle14 is secured an arm 17, connected by means of a helical spring 18 withan arm 19,

loose on the spindle 14. The arm 19 is provided at its free extremitywith a cross-piece 20, projecting into the path of two tappet 21 and 22on the guide-rod e The connections of the motor M, storage battery a,and the two above-described switching devices will now be given withreference to Fig. 7, so as to facilitate understanding the operation ofthe said switching devices. The storage battery 0 is connected through ablock instrument I, Figs. 4 and 5, hereinafter described, which controlsthe distribution of the current by means of two wires 1 and II, Figs. 7and 12, in parallel, and a joint return 111 with the electromotor M, thetwo wires I and 11 being connected to the corresponding contacts '1; anda" of the stabilitdisk h, the return III being in series with thefield-magnet winding F of the electromotor M, which winding F is in itsturn connected to a binding-screw 24, permanently connected toone of thecontact-blades 15 16. The second binding-screw 25, connected to theother contact-blades, 15 16, is connected with the bottom contacts jofthe stabilit disk It. As already stated, the scissors-contacts areconnected diagonally that is to say, 10 is connected with 13 and-11 with12-as may be seen in Fig. 7. In the end position of the motor (indicatedin Fig. 1) the signal is at line blocked and the two switching devicesare in the position indicated in the connection diagram on the righthandside of Fig. 7, the contacts 2' and j are in circuit-through the switchit, while contact between 71 and is (or is broken. The next passage ofcurrent caused by a train passing under the corresponding overhead line,which must put the signal at all clear, can take place only through thewire I in circuit with 2', contact being made through the switch with j,which is connected up with the motor while the wire II is interruptedbetween i and k. The current goes, therefore,from a (through the saidblock instrument) through-I to 1' la y, terminal 25, contact-blade 16,contact 13, contact 10, motor-armature R, contact 11, contact 12,contact-blade 16, terminal 24, through the field-magnet Winding F andwire III back to the battery a. The armature R is thereby rotated,causing thescrew-spindle e to move to the left-hand side, Fig. 1,whereupon the lever Q will cause the spindle G to oscillate in acontra-clockwise direction. This willalso cause the switch -arms 7r: Isto move. The switch-arm k, conveying the current, will therefore leavethe contact 2' when the motor reaches the end of its stroke, while theswitch 76 makes contact with 7:. The motor then ceases to-rotate.Meanwhile the following willhave happened on the other side of the motorDuring the movement of the screw-threaded spindle c to the left theprojection or tappet 21 strikes the cross-piece 20 and carries with itthe arm 19, loose on the spindle 14, without moving the contact-blades15 16 and 15- 16. Then the spring 18 will be stretched until the arm 19comes into line with the arm 17, mounted on the spindle 14, as shown bychain-lines in Fig. 1. As soonasthe arm 19 passes beyond" that positionthe spring 18 causes the contactblades to move into the oppositeposition in which the blades 15 15 make contact at 10 and 11. If it isdesired to bring the signal S back to the position line blocked, thiscan only be effected through the wire II, as ac cording to the foregoingthis wire is in circuit through the switch is. The current goes thenfrom a through II to 71 k 7', terminal 25, blade contact 11.,motor-armature R, contact 10, blade 15, terminal 24, through thefield-magnet winding F and wire III back to the source of current. Asthe current passes through the armature in the opposite direction thearmature will rotate in a direction opposite to that of its formerrotation and cause the screw-threaded spindle e to move to the right,whereupon the switch k leaves the contact 2", the switch again makescircuit through the contact 2', and the tappet 22 returns the blades ofthe reversing-switch into their original position, so that the motorwhen stopped is ready to start again in the opposite direction. In orderto prevent the motor from passing beyond the end positions, the rodsoperating the signals or the points are provided with glycerin-brakes ordashpots of the well-known kind or the motors are brought to astandstill in the well-known manner by the use of an electricshort-circuiting device.

In motors used for working points the tension-rod connecting the motorand the pointed rail is provided with safety-bolts as used in allcentrally-controlled points in case the points spring or jam.

The signal-motors are set in operation on the passage of the train by acircuit-changing or block instrument, such as is illustrated in Figs. 4and 5. This instrument is arranged in a casing L and essentiallycomprises an electromagnet Z, the armature Z of which is mounted on alever m, pivoted at m and provided with a spring-contact on. When nocurrent is passing through the electromagnet, the spring-contact ispressed against a contact-screw u in a bracket a under the action of ahelical spring '11 acting on the lever m. At the top of the lever misarranged a springpawl 32, engaging with a ratchet-wheel keyed onto aspindle 1 On the latter spindle are mounted contact-blad cs 26 and 27 27which are insulated from one another and from the spindle g by means ofsleeves 28, but rotate together with the said spindle q, as shown inFig. 15. On each of the two insulating-sleeves 28 is mounted a brassring s, (s',) to which are secured two diametrically oppositeinsulatinglingers t, (t.) At both sides of the brass rings are arrangedspring-contacts 29 30 and 31 32, and arranged opposite to the blades 2627 27 are lined contact-strips 33 33, 34 34, and 35 35, with which thesaid blades make contact. These blades are so arranged relatively to theinsulating fingers that when the blade 26 makes contact with the strips33 33 the corresponding spring-contacts 29 30 are resting against thecorresponding insulating-lingers 25, while the blades 27 27 are out ofcontact with the strips 34 34 and 35 35', and the springcontacts 31 32rest against the corresponding brass rings a, and vice versa. (See Fig.5.) On the spindle q is mounted a disk 36, provided with two red and twogreen circles analogously to the signal positions, one of these circlesappearing in each opening 37 of the front plate of the casing, Fig. 6,and indicating the position of the corresponding signal. The parts abovementioned are mounted on a support 38, which can be easily introducedinto the casing L between guide-ribs 39. The casing L contains two suchapparatus when my improved system is to be used for a double-track line.The space in the casing below the said switching apparatus is used forreceiving the terminal or switch boards 40 for connecting the wires tothe said instrument. Above the casing L are arranged the required alarmsw, Fig. 12, fuses, and lightning conductors of the well-known kind. Thesaid switchboards are indicated in Figs. 12, 12, and 12 simply by theterminals 1 to 9, all the other auxiliary terminals or bindingscrewswhich are shown in Fig. 4 being left out. As will be seen from thesefigures, the contact-strip 33 is connected by a wire 42 to thebinding-screw 3, connected to the wire I, and the strip 34 is connectedby the wire 43 and the terminal 2 with the wire II, and the strip 35 isconnected by means of the wire 44 and terminal 7 and 6 with thereturn-wire III. The strips 33 and 34 are connected in parallel by thewire 45 with the terminal 5, which is connected by means of the wire 46with the source of the current a. The contact-strip 35 is connected tothe terminal 8, which is connected through a wire 47 with the terminal 1of a similar block instrument of the preceding section. Thespring-contact 29 is connected to the terminal 1. The spring-contact 31passes to the terminal 9 and is connected by means of the wire 0 to theoverhead line O, while the spring-contacts 30 and 32 are connected withthe armature-lever m by means of a wire 48 through the alarm w 10 andthe electromagnet-windings Z, thereafter passing through thecontact-screw u to the wire 45, leading to the terminal 5, or directlyto that terminal. The terminal 4 is connected on the one side with thereturn-wire III and on the other side with the source of current a bymeans of a wire 49.

The manner of working of the block instrument will now be described. Asthe wires I II III are connected to the corresponding strips 33, 34, and35, the signal-motor receives current through the proper wires, (I IIIor II 1.11,) and thus rotates in the proper direction when the switchingdevice of the block instrument has been operated. \Vhen current iscaused to pass through the electromagnet Z, the latter attracts itsarmature Z, which by means of the pawl); causes the ratchet-wheel '1,and consequently also the spindle q, carrying the contact-blades 26 2727, to rotate through a certain angle. WVhen the armature is attracted,the contact at the screw a is broken, so that the current is interruptedand the electromagnet receives no more current, whereupon the spring 71draws the armature away and again closes the contact at u. The armaturethus keeps oscillating as long as there is current, so that the blades(26 and 27 27) in contact with the strips are moved out of contacttherewith, or if the said blades are out of contact with the strips theblades are moved to make contact therewith. The'stopping of the spindle1 at the proper moment is effected by the insulating-fingers t t on thebrass rings a s, which lift the spring-contacts 29 30 or 31 32 off theconducting brass rings at the moment when the corresponding blade orblades make contact, and thus interrupt the circuit through theelectromagnet Z. The use of an automatic circuit-breaking device in thisblock instrument is advantageous in that the atmospheric dischargesexercise no influence on the block instrument, as a single attraction ofthe arma turc I cannot effect the switching in or out of thecontact-blades 26 27 27.

The manner of operating the whole system on a double-track line will benow fully described with reference to Figs. 12, 12, and 12". Thestations or posts P and P in these figures will be assumed to indicatedeparture and arrival stations between which there is only one signalstation or post P The parts in these figures are marked in the same wayas in the other figures. B B are the successive block instruments, ofwhich there are two in each post, onefor each direction of traveling. C)O", &c., are the overhead lines; S S S", the semaphore-signals; 0 0 0,the wires leading to the overhead lines; a a a the sources of current; MM M the clectromotors; F F F, the motor-windings; R R R themotor-armatures, and Z Z are the trains. Each track is indicated by asingle line. At the stations with reference to the signal-releasingapparatus no attention has been paid to the central controlling of thepoints, as this case will be dealt with later on. When the sectionbelonging to the post P is entered upon, the signal S is still at allclear. As soon as the contact-arm breaches the overhead line O thefollowing circuit is established: from the storage battery (L2 to theterminal 1 of the instrument B, terminal 6 through earth, train Z to 7)and O, 0 to terminal 9 of the instrument B", then through thespring-contact 31 32, alarm :0 electromagnet Z, armature-lever on to theterminal and back to the battery (0 in the station or post P This willresult in the spindle q of the block instrument B being caused to turn,

whereupon circuit will be broken at the contact-strips 33 33 andcontacts made at 341 34: and 35 35. The motor-circuitis now closed.Current from the storage battery (L2 passes to the terminal 4:,(instrument B3,) wire III to the field-magnet winding F, terminal 24,contactscrew 11, contact-blade binding-screw 25, through k i, wire II tobinding-screw 2 in the instrumentB wire 4.3, strips 3 1 34, wire 45,binding-screw 5 back to (4 At the same time the following circuit willbe closed for the battery 0, situated in the station or post P. When thespindle q in the instrument B turns, it also closes contact at 35. Acurrent flows, therefore, from the battery a of the station P to thebinding-screw 4: of the instrument B and passes to the binding-screw 6of the same instrument, then through earth to the binding-screw 6 (or 7of the instrument B and wire 44 to 35, through blade 27 to 35, tobinding-screw 8, (in B",) and through the wire 4:7 to the binding-screw1 of the block instru-. ment B, through spring-contact 29 and ring 8 tothe spring-eontact 30, wire 48, alarm w,

imagnet-Winding Z, armature lever on, bindlng-serew 5, wire 46 back tothe battery (4 of the post P. The three figures 12, 12, and 12 belongtogether, as set forth in the specification, and compose when they areconnected according to the lines separated at the ends by dots acontinuous properly associated blade 15, terminal 10, armature B",bindingswitch arrangement, from which it is to be noted that theconductor 17 leads from the terminal 8 of a line-block to a terminal 1of a previous block. Now as the block apparatus I for one track of theline is indicated by B,

B, and B and the block apparatus of the other track of the line by B B,and B" it is clear that the conductor leads from 8 in B to 1in B. Inthis way the switching device of the block instrument B is operated,whereupon the contacts at 34: 34: 35 35 and 29 30 are broken and contactclosed at 31 32 and 33 33. In consequence of the closing of contact at33 33 the current passes into the motor of the signal S, which up tothat time was at line blocked and disengages it. A change of positioncan, however, be effected only after the signal S has been put at lineblocked, as in accordance with the foregoing description the necessaryconnections and reversal of the motor can be effected only when thelatter signal is at line blocked. The current actuating the signal Scomes from (6 of the post P and goes to the binding-screw 4 of theinstrument B through the wire III to the field-magnet winding F,binding-screw 2 1, contact-blade 16, binding-screw 12, bindingscrew 11,motor-armature R, binding-screws 10 and 13, contact-blade 16,binding-screw 25 to 7' 7:; 71, wire I, binding-screw 3 of the instru:ment B, wire 12, contact-strips 33 33, wire 45 to binding-screw 5 andwire 16 back to the battery 4. The motor then puts the signal S at allclear, so that the semaphore is returned to and remains in its originalposition until the passing of the next train puts the signal again atline blocked.

If storage batteries are provided at the end stations (1" B) only, whilethe posts or intermediate stations (P receive their current through thebefore-mentioned wire (a (indicated by chain-lines in Figs. 12, 12, 12,)then the wires 49 on these sections become superfluous, the wire 46being connected to the wire from the source of current. A purely andexclusively automatic series of operations take place on open linebetween the end stations. On entering a section it can, however, happenthat owing to'shunting operations the track is not immediately-freed, inwhich case the home signal should not be put at all clear. To keep thesignal at line blocked, there is a separate apparatus which can beoperated by an official in charge, the said apparatus preferably beingarranged in the traffic ofiice or a suitable signal-cabin. In stationswith centrally controlled points or other blocking systems thisapparatuscan be connected with my improved system of signals either mechanicallyor electrically. The latter case is illustrated in the connectiondiagram in Figs. 12, 12", and 12". The construction of this apparatus isshown in Figs. 8 to 10. The apparatus in question comprises a handoperated reversing switch, beneath which is mounted a device forindicating the position of the home signal by means of colored (red andgreen) disks appearing at a window in the apparatus. In case ofdoubletrack installations two of the hereinafter-described apparatus arearranged in the casing V. On a plate 50, made of insulating material,are arranged two curved contact-pieces 51 52, provided withbinding-screws. The plate is secured to the back wall of the easing Vand is provided with suitable holes to receive the projecting ends ofthe core 53 of an electromagnet c. Between the two spools of theelectromagnet is arranged a spindle 54, on which are mountedcontact-arms 55, insulated from the spindle by a sleeve. In the normalposition of the spindle 54 these contactarms do not touch the contacts51 and 52; but when the spindle is turned in a contra-clockwisedirection, Fig. 8, the arm 55 electrically connects these two contacts.The lever 56, carrying the contact-arm 55, is provided with a lateralprojection 57, and the said lever is connected to the plate 50 by meansof a spring 58. On the spindle 54 is slidably mounted an armature 59 forthe electromagnet, a helical spring 60, surrounding said spindle,normally holding said armature away from the core of the magnet while nocurrent is passing through the magnet. Brass bolts are arranged to passthrough the said armature freely, but so as to restrain it from turning.A springhook 61 is laterally secured to the armature and arranged toengage with the projection 57 when the switch or spindle 54 is turned,whereby the switch is held in the closed position. The end of thespindle 54 projecting beyond the casing is provided with a suitablehandle or crank :r, by means of which the spindle can be turned. Thecontrolling device in the casing V beneath the reversingswitch comprisestwo electromagnets 62 63, between the cores of which an armature 65,mounted on the spindle 64, can oscillate. On the spindle 64 there isalso secured a disk 66, provided with two fiat portions 67. In the twoend positions of the armature a steel spring 68 rests against one orother of these fiat portions and prevents the armature from falling backwhen the current passing through the electromagnet 62 63 is cut off.Near its lower end the armature is provided with two lingers 69, whichcause the lever 71, pivoted at 70, to oscillate in unison with thearmature. To the upper end of the said lever 71 .are secured thesignal-disks 72 (red) and 73,

(green,) one or the other of which appears in the window 74 in the frontplate of the easing, according to the position of the armature. Beneaththis device is arranged the switchboard 75, with the binding-screwsrequired for connecting the wires. One electromagnet, 62, of the controldevice is, as may be seen from the connection diagram in Fig. 11,connected in series with the winding of the electromagnet o and with thewires I and III, leading to the corresponding wires I and III, the otherelectromagnet, 63, being intercalated between the wire II, leading toII, and the wire III, leading to III. The switch 51 52 55 is replaced inthe connection diagram in Figs. 12 to 12 by a simple key 55 and acontaet 51, connected to earth. Key 55 is connected by the wire 1/ tothe binding-screw 1 of the block instrument B or B in the station P orP". The working of the switch for operating the home signal ishereinafter more fully described. If the home signal is to be placed atall clear,then the switch is turned toward the left by means of thehandle m, Fig. 8. This causes the projection 57 to come under the hook61, whereby the arm 55 is held in the closed position. The helicalspring 58 is then in a state of tension. WVhen contact is made between51 55, (connection diagram, Fig. 12, current from the battery a" passesthrough the binding-screw 4 of the instrument B and binding-screw 6 toearth,through earth to contact 51, through 55 and wire 1 to thebindingscrew 1 of the instrument B through springcontacts 29 and 30,alarm 20', into magnet-winding Z, armature-lever on, wire 45, binding-screw 5 of the instrument B and through 46 back to m. Thereversing-switch of the instrument B is thereby operated and closescontact at 33 33 in the instrument B whereby in accordance with theforegoing description current is supplied to the motor M of the homesignal The latter is then placed at all clear. The current to the motorpasses through the wire I, the electromagnet 62 or the electromagnet 63of the controlling apparatus, and the releasing-electromagnet e of theabove-described releasing apparatus. Manifestly the current flows eitherthrough I or II, as both of these conductors are continuations of I orII. In the first case the course of the current is showndiagrammatically in Fig. 16, and in the second case the course of thecurrent is shown diagrammatically in Fig.17. As in one case 62 istraversed by the current and in the other case 63 is traversed by thecurrent, the armature will be driven either in the one or the otherdirection, as clearly shown in Fig. 18. If 51 be closed, either, 62 or63 will be energized as soon as the conductor I (I) or II (II) istraversed by the current, which in both cases returns through III andindicates the position of the signal operated through the motor. If 51be disconnected, the motor-circuit I III or II III will be broken offand the signal 72 or 73 will remain in position, being held fast by theflat portion 67 of the armature-spindle 64, and indicates the positionof the signal. The electromagnet o automatically breaks contact 51 55 bylifting the spring 61 olf the projection 57 of the lever 56, and thelatter is'rotated to the inoperative position by the spring 58. WVhenthe motor stops and there is consequently no current passing in the wireI, the before-mentioned spring 68 prevents the armature 65 from fallingback. Since, also, the armature 59 has been lifted off the electromagnet53 of the electromagneto by the spring 60, the apparatus is again in thestarting position. When the arriving train automatically places thesignal at line blocked by means of the overhead line and in the mannerdescribed, the current alsopasses through the wire II and through theelectromagnet 63 of the control apparatus connected with it. Theenergized core of that electromagnet attracts the armature 65 withsufficient force to overcome the pressure exercised by the spring 68 ofthe disk 66 on the flattened portions 67 being overcome and the red disk72 appearing in the window 74. The arriving train simultaneously placesthe signal S of the station P at all clear in the above-describedmanner, so that the following train is free to proceed. The interruptionof the contacts 51 55 taking place immediately after the home signal hasbeen placed at line blocked is absolute] y necessary, since if saidcontact remain closed the home signal S would change from the lineblocked position back again to all clear. In case an official places thehome signal at all clear in error before the track is free a double key.2, Fig. 12, canbe provided in the station, which may be suitablysealed, connected to the overhead line 0 through the wire 0, thecorresponding contact being earthed. WVhen the key 2 is depressed, thecorresponding overhead line is earthed. This key therefore in thepresent in. stance performs the function of a train.

1. An automatic block-signal system embodying short lengths of alocally-arranged overhead line, a contact establishing commu-' nicationbetween the line and operated by the starting-lever of the locomotiveinto and out of operative position, an electromotor arranged at theblock and operating signal devices, and means for establishingcommunication between the line and the electromotor.

- 2. An automatic block-signal system embodying short lengths of alocally-arranged overhead line, a contact carried by the engine andoperated by the starting-lever into and out of operative position,electromotors arranged at the blocks and operating signals, and meansfor establishing communication with the electromotor and a precedingblock.

3. An automatic signal system embodying a lead comprising short lengthsof a locallyarranged overhead line, a contact carried by the engine andoperated by the starting-lever thereof, electromotors arranged at theblocks and controlling the positions of the signals or of theswitch-points of the section in which the train is traveling, means forestablishing communication betweenthe line and the electromotor, andmeans for operating the electromotor of a preceding section, the earthbeing the return.

4:. An automatic block signal system, a block instrument arranged atstations along the line, signal-motors, the said block instrument andmotors being connected by two conductors which alternately convey thecurrent and one common return-lead, the said block instrument being inelectrical connection with a similar instrument at a preceding station.

5. An automatic block signal system, a block instrument arranged atstations along the line, signal-motors, the said block instrument andmotors being connected by two conductors which alternately convey thecurrent and one common return-lead, the said block instrument being inelectrical connection with a similar instrument at a preceding station,a switching device and-an automatic interrupter or circuit-breaker, theswitching device, when the movement of the motor is completed operatingto break the circuit through which the current is passing at that momentand closes the alternative circuit for operating the motor.

6. An automatic block signal system, a block instrument arranged atstations along the line, signal-motors, the said block instru ment andmotors being connected by two conductors which alternately convey thecurrent and one common return-lead, the said block instrument being inelectrical connection with a similar instrument at a preceding station,a switching device and an automatic interrupter or circuit-breaker, theswitching device, when IIO be changed by the next train througl'l theintermediary of the corresponding block instrument in circuit with theoverhead line.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED OESTERREICHER.

Witnesses:

J osnr RUBAscH, ALvns'ro S. HocUn.

